THE PINNACLE of every Sport Relief telethon is the sight of a celebrity finishing a herculean physical challenge, emotional and often in tears.

In 2009, Eddie Izzard completed 43 marathons in 51 days; in 2011 David Walliams swam 140 miles along the River Thames, and few will forget the sight, in 2014, of a weepy Davina McCall finishing her seven-day, 500-mile triathlon from Edinburgh to London.

Of all Davina’s achievements as presenter of shows like Big Brother, The Jump, Long Lost Family and The Million Pound Drop, the Sport Relief challenge remains the accomplishment she’s proudest of, not least because she never thought she’d manage it.

“At first, I thought I literally couldn’t do it, that it was an impossible challenge,” says Davina, 50.

“But I did it, and it made me realise that we all have a lot more in us than we think we have. I think it changed me a little bit as a person.”

Fitness fanatic Davina is back on our screens this week as part of the presenters of Sport Relief 2018, Friday’s entertainment extravaganza that tops a week of fitness-related shows in aid of the charity.

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Davina Mccall will join a host of other presenters this year for a Sports Relief challenge

At first, I thought I literally couldn’t do it, that it was an impossible challenge

Davina’s co-presenters over the course of the evening will include Gary Lineker, Claudia Winkleman, Freddie Flintoff, Ore Oduba and Paddy McGuinness.

“I present every Sport Relief because it means so much to me,” says Davina, speaking exclusively to Saturday.

“Obviously, I love health and fitness and I love this idea of not just getting the nation fit, but of raising money while we’re doing it.

“Lots of people might be introduced to a bit of fitness through Sport Relief. They might go, ‘I really enjoyed that fun run we did for Sport Relief; maybe I’ll do a little bit more.’ So, for me, it’s a no-brainer to raise money and try to raise a bit of awareness about health and fitness.

“Sport brings families together. It brings me together with my kids – we all love cycling.”

Davina is referring to her offspring, Holly, 16, Tilly, 14, and 11-year-old Chester, whose father is businessman Matthew Robertson, from whom Davina separated last year.

Having aced her own colossal Sport Relief challenge four years ago, Davina is well-placed to offer advice to one of this year’s celebs, Zoe Ball, who cycled 350 miles from Blackpool to Brighton in five days earlier this month to highlight mental health issues on behalf of Sport Relief.

Davina tells us that she had “a really sweet talk with Zoe” before the latter’s bike ride.

Using colourful expressions a bit too graphic to reproduce here, Davina explains that their chat centred around how Zoe could ease the pain caused to her delicate areas by a bike saddle.

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Davina was well placed to offer Zoe Ball some good advice for Sports Relief this year

Davina encouraged Zoe to apply a “miracle” ointment prepared by a medic who’d helped Davina during her own gruelling trial.

Zoe’s epic bike ride will no doubt be celebrated in Friday’s big show, which is jam-packed with entertainment – clips of celebrities putting themselves through the mill, sports-themed versions of our favourite shows, comedy sketches and moving footage of Sport Relief’s projects.

We’ll be ringside at a celebrity boxing event that will see six famous faces potentially take a battering.

After extensive training in the ring, Made In Chelsea’s Spencer Matthews will go several rounds with ex-footballer Wayne Bridge, actress and pop star Hannah Spearritt takes on The Saturdays’ Vanessa White, and TV presenter Helen Skelton and reality TV star Camilla Thurlow will throw punches at each other.

Other TV regulars will pick up oars for a Clash of the Channels Boat Race: BBC v ITV. Sport Relief is designed to entertain and encourage generous Brits to dig deep into their pockets to help others.

And fitness freak Davina is committed to the cause.

“I’ve seen the work Sport Relief do and the difference it makes,” explains Davina.

“Not just to the individuals it helps, but if you help one person and they grow up having a better life and they can in turn help others, it can massively make a difference.